General precautions as administered by other physicians, acupuncturists too are required to use sterile needles for all treatments. Some adverse reactions reported in a few cases include bleeding, hematoma, feeling dizzy, and other vegetative symptoms.

Of course the treatment modalities depend completely upon the experience and expertise of the acupuncturist and if performed by an expert, the patient will not experience any side effects and feel completely relaxed and revitalized post acupuncture treatment.

Some of the common acupuncture side effects or inconveniences experienced during or after acupuncture are as listed below:

There will continue to be a regular sensation of warmth, tenderness, and tingling when the acupuncture needles reach the acupoint or trigger point.

There could be a possibility of acupuncture needles causing mild bruising and bleeding due to penetrating through minute blood capillaries.

One of the possible acupuncture side effects is the chance that patients might experience temporary drop in blood pressure levels or low blood pressure and fatigue. There are rare instances of patient fainting post acupuncture treatment.

Rare instances of allergic reactions to stainless steel acupuncture needles have been experienced by some patients.

If the acupuncture needles are not sterilized properly, it could result in certain forms of infections.

Similarly, if the needles are not inserted efficiently, it could result in perforating some of the vital organs.

PENS or TENS acupuncture treatment modalities involving electrical stimulation at various key trigger points could result in temporary tingling sensation or pins and needles sensation.

Employing elecrostimulators that aren't working well can result in nerve damage if the electricity is passed on for extended periods of time or is set at a high frequency.

Herbs used in acupuncture treatment could result in insomnia because of the caffeine content, or allergic reactions, and / or allergies in patients that cannot tolerate certain herbs. Similarly, in moxibustion, if herbs are burnt and held too close to the skin, it could result in burn injuries.

In acupuncture treatments involving cupping and guasha, blood drawn close to the skin surface could result in bruising.

Pressure exerted on any nerve could result in inflammation of the nerve.

These are some of the possible acupuncture side effects and acupuncture risks that could be involved in patients undergoing acupuncture, but these are relatively less when compared to other forms of treatment.

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